A functional home for the whole family

Design offers plenty of livable space on main level

Hey there, time traveller!This article was published 9/2/2013 (1398 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As important as style is, the first priority for families looking to buy a new home is function.

That’s exactly what Randall Homes had in mind when they conceived The Jasper — an 1,850-sq.-ft., two-storey design — said Randall Homes’ Jason Jaquet.

2 Purple Sage Crescent in Sage Creek

"It’s easy to outfit any home with all kinds of luxurious details and amenities, and you can certainly do that when you equip The Jasper with upgraded features and finishes," he said.

"That said, the main focus of this design was to create a home that was as livable as possible on the main level with a highly functional great room, and with an upper level that offered the space and separation that families need."

While 1,850 sq. ft. doesn’t seem that large at first blush, it’s important to note that a home’s floor plan determines it’s functionality. If poorly executed, a lack of space can result. If well-executed, livable space will be maximized and a home will be surprisingly functional.

That’s the case with The Jasper’s second floor, which contains — count ’em — four bedrooms, plus a four-piece main bath.

"Most people expect three bedrooms but with The Jasper, you get four," said Randall’s sales representative for 2 Purple Sage Crescent, Paul Michael Saltel. "Thanks to a very efficient floor plan, there are four bedrooms, with each being a decent size (bedroom two is the smallest at 10.6 feet by just under nine-and-a-half feet). We’re seeing more families with three kids now, so it’s a real bonus to have a fourth bedroom — no one has to share a bedroom with a brother or sister."

Conversely, if only two bedrooms are required, the fourth bedroom — which measures in at 13 feet by nearly nine-and-a-half feet — could be modified to serve another purpose.

"It could be easily converted into a loft that could serve as a media room, office or play room," he explained. "It’s just one of the many ways that we can work with a client to tweak a home to meet their needs."

Speaking of tweaking, the master suite — which comes in at a generous 12.7 feet by 16 feet — also deviates from standard designs (in a good way).

"Our designers changed things up a bit there. Instead of having the usual big walk-in closet that’s designed to serve both the wife and husband, they placed his/her closets either side of the short hallway that leads to the ensuite," said Saltel. "Trends have shown that women like to have their own closet, so the ‘her’ closet is larger than the ‘his’ to accommodate a more extensive wardrobe. People love the concept, so we’re going to incorporate it into more of our designs."

Having the closets and brief hallway in front of the ensuite accomplishes something else: it increases the ensuite’s privacy factor. Set off by itself and buffered by the hallway, all you need to do is shut the door, and you’re in your own little world.

Suffice it to say, that world is a relaxing one with a taupe plank tile floor, oval jetted soaker tub (set beneath a large obscured glass window), textured brown thermofoil vanity with taupe quartz countertop and vessel sink.

"It’s like having your own personal spa," he said.

Head downstairs via a four-foot-wide staircase, and the open-concept great room area is notable for its well-used space, different finishes and brightness.

"It’s a nice bright, open area that functions extremely well," said Saltel. "Our designers didn’t want one massive space, so they put in a one-third wall that neatly separates the family room from the kitchen. People have told us they don’t want walls, they want an open feel."

The next thing Randall’s designers did was to utilize different finishes in the great room to differentiate it from the dark maple/granite great rooms of so many of their competitors.

"We put in oak hardwoods with a bleached look and matte finish to give the great room a different look. It’s a different look that really grows on you. Then, they put dark thermofoil cabinets in the kitchen to provide contrast. The thermofoil not only looks different, but it is also more durable than wood. Their texture is also nice, too," he said. "A four-foot island, taupe quartz countertops and tile backsplash finish off the kitchen beautifully, while a big dinette area, front-oriented flex room and main floor laundry/mud room add more functionality to the main floor."

Meanwhile, the lower level adds another 900-plus square feet to the home, bringing total livable square footage up close to the 2,800 sq. ft. mark — sufficient for any growing family.

"You can develop a lower level with a rec room, fifth bedroom, bathroom and storage. The rec room will provide even more separation — you can easily put in a media area and games area, and still have plenty of room over for the bedroom, bathroom and storage," said Saltel.

"While the show home costs $478,900, it’s filled with upgrades. For around $400,000, you can get the same great floor plan with basic finishes. Either way, it’s a functional home that everyone in the family can enjoy on every level."

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